Text messaging is a daily routine for many, but it doesn’t have to be dull. Surprisingly, there are ways to add some excitement to those blue and grey text bubbles on your iPhone or iPad. These tricks are especially useful for lively group chats or managing multiple conversations simultaneously.
You might already know about fun features like sending birthday wishes with balloons or celebrating with confetti. If not, they are worth exploring! In addition to these, the iPhone offers various other iMessage features that can be quite handy.
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iMessage Fun Tricks
Discover three lesser-known iMessage features:
Reply to a Specific Message
Getting lost in a group chat or managing multiple conversations in one thread can be chaotic. Fortunately, there’s a way to reply to a particular message. Here’s how:
- Swipe right, double-tap, or long-press on the text bubble you want to respond to.
- Tap “Reply.”
- Compose your message and press send.
Your response will be linked with a digital thread, clearly showing which message it pertains to. This feature works for both received and sent messages.
PS: Did you know you can now edit and unsend texts?
Respond Without Typing
Reactions offer a simple way to reply without typing out full responses. Double-tap or long-press on a message to see Apple’s Tapback options pop up above it. Choose the most fitting reaction and let it speak for you.
If the standard reactions like a heart, thumbs up or down, “haha,” exclamation points, or a question mark don’t fully capture your feelings, get creative by dragging any emoji onto the message for a personalized touch.
Handwritten Notes Go Digital
No need for pen and paper to add a personal touch to your messages. Simply rotate your iPhone to landscape mode in a message and press the swirl icon at the bottom right. This feature is also available on your iPad. Scribble your note or sketch, then hit send. iPhone recipients will see the message animate as if being written live, similar to a scene from Harry Potter. If sent to an Android, it will arrive as an image. Your creations are saved for easy reuse or deletion. To remove any, long-press to make them wiggle and hit the ‘x’ on those you wish to discard.